formysister
New member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2013
- Messages
- 8
- Reason
- Loved one DX
- Country
- US
- State
- MD
- City
- Anytown
Hello all,
As my username implies, I've lost a sister to ALS (I would presume bulbar onset) 2 years ago when she was 57 years old old.
Now, I'm completely terrified that I may be having early symptoms as well. I am 45 years old and a health care practitioner. Being knowledgable with symptoms can suck big time because it can be easy to identify with them.
My symptoms began months ago with perceived stiffness of right forearm. I noticed it while watching a movie. I also had a one time episode of a fasciculation of my right pointer finger. No real weakness seen.
Subsequently, I began to notice I was tiring easily. (legs felt rubbery, felt sleepy all the time)
Then came Memorial Day week when my "bulbar symptoms" began. It began harmlessly as having a moment of forgeting how to swallow. Things went downhill from there. My swallowing issues became more frequent (still the forgetting how to swallow sensation, the occasional lump in throat, the sensation of food still stuck at the back of my throat). I began to lose my appetite and started losing weight from 176, now down to 169 with both loss of fat and muscle mass. My sleep is now affected. Cannot sleep straight, difficult time going back to sleep.
Paranoia set it. I began doing the tongue/soft palate evaluations (could still whistle, albeit never was great anyway, can move my tongue around without difficulty, no apparent fasciculations noted). I am not slurring, but wife notes occasional hoarseness. I've also started testing my motor strength. I could do 3 reps of 35 pushups, one leg standing up from sitting (left greater than right) and balancing oneself on the ball of the foot one foot at a time greater than 10 seconds.
Finally visited an internist, told my symptoms to which he did a neuro exam. He didn't find anything remarkable. Did some labs, found out I may be pre diabetic and may have some cervical and lumbar arthritis. He referred me to a neurologist. She did her neuro exam as well. She initially was ready to do an EMG but decided otherwise since she said there was nothing found in my neuro exam to warrant it. Both docs attribute it to anxiety.
But she did refer me to a speech and language pathologist (who has seen a lot of ALS patients) to which she only noted my larynx as tense which may explain my hoarseness.
Now, I am following a grief counsellor (Speech pathologist thinks I really haven't gotten over my sister's death) and have seen a psychiatrist because of my anxieties.
The gagging has become more frequent now. Initially, it was to bananas or soft mushy food. Now it happens whenever I force myself to eat even when I don't feel hungry. I could still eat without choking. Can this be from anxiety?
I am a mess. I have 3 young kids (5, 4 and 2) who I don't want to leave behind. I really wish to GOD this is because of anxiety. HELP!
As my username implies, I've lost a sister to ALS (I would presume bulbar onset) 2 years ago when she was 57 years old old.
Now, I'm completely terrified that I may be having early symptoms as well. I am 45 years old and a health care practitioner. Being knowledgable with symptoms can suck big time because it can be easy to identify with them.
My symptoms began months ago with perceived stiffness of right forearm. I noticed it while watching a movie. I also had a one time episode of a fasciculation of my right pointer finger. No real weakness seen.
Subsequently, I began to notice I was tiring easily. (legs felt rubbery, felt sleepy all the time)
Then came Memorial Day week when my "bulbar symptoms" began. It began harmlessly as having a moment of forgeting how to swallow. Things went downhill from there. My swallowing issues became more frequent (still the forgetting how to swallow sensation, the occasional lump in throat, the sensation of food still stuck at the back of my throat). I began to lose my appetite and started losing weight from 176, now down to 169 with both loss of fat and muscle mass. My sleep is now affected. Cannot sleep straight, difficult time going back to sleep.
Paranoia set it. I began doing the tongue/soft palate evaluations (could still whistle, albeit never was great anyway, can move my tongue around without difficulty, no apparent fasciculations noted). I am not slurring, but wife notes occasional hoarseness. I've also started testing my motor strength. I could do 3 reps of 35 pushups, one leg standing up from sitting (left greater than right) and balancing oneself on the ball of the foot one foot at a time greater than 10 seconds.
Finally visited an internist, told my symptoms to which he did a neuro exam. He didn't find anything remarkable. Did some labs, found out I may be pre diabetic and may have some cervical and lumbar arthritis. He referred me to a neurologist. She did her neuro exam as well. She initially was ready to do an EMG but decided otherwise since she said there was nothing found in my neuro exam to warrant it. Both docs attribute it to anxiety.
But she did refer me to a speech and language pathologist (who has seen a lot of ALS patients) to which she only noted my larynx as tense which may explain my hoarseness.
Now, I am following a grief counsellor (Speech pathologist thinks I really haven't gotten over my sister's death) and have seen a psychiatrist because of my anxieties.
The gagging has become more frequent now. Initially, it was to bananas or soft mushy food. Now it happens whenever I force myself to eat even when I don't feel hungry. I could still eat without choking. Can this be from anxiety?
I am a mess. I have 3 young kids (5, 4 and 2) who I don't want to leave behind. I really wish to GOD this is because of anxiety. HELP!